Psychology BSc (Hons)

Having a wide understanding of the way in which people act, react and interact prepares you for a wide range of careers, not just as a professional psychologist but also across a range of different sectors. On this course you’ll learn how to apply scientific methods to measure, understand and explain beliefs, decision-making processes and behaviour. How can we improve our ability to detect lies? What role does stress play in our lives? How can professionals improve their performance at work? How can we improve the mental health and wellbeing of society? Whether you wish to pursue a career as a Chartered Psychologist or simply use psychology as entry into a wide range of graduate careers you’ll learn how to apply your knowledge in a variety of professional settings. The course follows the core syllabus of the professional body, the British Psychological Society (BPS) providing you with the breadth and depth of knowledge that enables you graduate with Graduate Basis for Chartered Membership and to progress onto a specialist, accredited master's.

In Years 1 and 2 you’ll cover the core areas of the discipline, cognition (memory, thinking and language), developmental (the psychology of life span), psychophysiology (the biological bases of behaviour), social (the influence of actual, imagined, or implied presence of others upon on thoughts and behaviour) and research methods and statistics (teaching you to conduct, report and interpret research). Alongside each of these interesting core areas you have the ability to select additional modules that correspond to our named, specialist psychology degree routes; Clinical, Cyberpsychology, Forensic, Neuropsychology or the Psychology of Child Development ensuring that you have both an understanding of the core areas of modern psychology and the ability to apply this knowledge across a range of areas. In your final year you spend one third of your time on your research project and select four modules from our wide range of options to ensure a breadth of coverage of the discipline – or should you desire to specialise in a specific area of psychology you can opt to transfer to any of our named, single honours, degree courses. Depending upon your career aspirations and personal goals you might take up the opportunity to study overseas either at another UCLan campus or to utilise exchange agreements with Universities across the globe, or you might take either a full year placement or a placement module to ensure that you develop the skills that will increase your employment options.

Students testing people’s psychology during training on how to evacuate an underwater helicopter.

You will be taught through a combination of lectures, seminars, workshops and computing/IT classes. Your research methods knowledge will be developed through a range of psychology practicals and develop your skills in statistical analysis and report writing. Whilst the lectures will typically be delivered to large groups, other smaller classes are used where appropriate, for example in seminars and research methods classes. These small groups allow you to develop your understanding of psychology and to practise your communication skills. You will get to know your fellow group members, and learn to use your Academic Advisor as a source of guidance and advice to help you get the most from your time studying at UCLan.

Students considering this course may also be interested in the parallel courses that operates at our Burnley Campus.

Scholarships and Bursaries

Entry Requirements

Our typical offer is 112-128 UCAS Points. We operate a flexible admissions policy and treat everyone as an individual. This means that we will take into consideration your educational achievements and predicted grades (where applicable) together with your application as a whole, including work experience and personal statement. General Studies accepted

Check your points

Course Overview

Year 1

The first year of the course begins by providing a broad understanding of the core elements of the discipline alongside some optional modules that permit you to explore new interests or consolidate existing ones.

Compulsory modules

Methods and Practice of Psychological Inquiry

Introduction to Developmental and Social Psychology

Introduction to Psychobiology and Cognition

Current Topics in Psychology I

Current Topics in Psychology II

Plus two modules from the following:

An Introduction to Evolutionary Psychology

Topics in Forensic and Criminal Psychology

Psychology of the Media

Year 2

At Year 2, we deliver all of the core British Psychological Society curriculum through your core modules. You do, however, still have room to select two optional modules each of which correspond to one of the specialist named courses that we offer in the School.

Compulsory modules

Psychological Research 1: Design and Quantitative Methods

Psychological Research 2: Qualitative Methods

Social and Developmental Psychology

Cognitive and Physiological Psychology

Individual Differences

Plus two modules from the following:

Health Psychology

Applying Psychology

Forensic Psychology

Topics and Techniques in Neuroscience

Year 3

Having covered all the core BPS syllabus in Year 2, Year 3 enables you to select from our extensive range of options taking modules from four different areas of psychology alongside your final year research project.

Learning Environment and Assessment

A 3 year degree qualification typically comprises 360 credits and each 20 credit (a standard module) equates to 200 hours of study, which comprises of a mixture of lectures, seminars, tutorials, practical sessions and independent study. Independent study is an important aspect of your degree course. The exact combination of study time will be detailed within your module descriptors, and will depend on your option choices.

You’ll be taught by academics that produce first-class research, which has an impact not just in academia but in our working and everyday lives. Much of our psychological research was rated as ‘internationally excellent’ and ‘world-leading’ in the last research assessment exercise.

You will be assessed by coursework and Multiple Choice Question exam, essay exams and the project. Percentage of coursework to exams is roughly 50/50.

Our Industry Links

We continuously engage with employers to make sure our curriculum delivers the skills and knowledge industry needs. These include a number of professionals from various sectors, including NHS Trusts, patient groups, medical practitioners, allied health professionals, the Prison Service, police forces, local education authorities, schools and professional sports organisations.

Professional Accreditation

The course is accredited by the British Psychology Society which is the learned and professional body, incorporated by the Royal Charter, for Psychology in the United Kingdom. This means that the course quality, leadership, design and content, the resources (physical and staffing) and the selection and admissions policies have all been found to meet the standards demanded by the BPS. Consequently the course fulfils the requirements for the Graduate Basis for Chartered Membership (GBC) of the BPS for those students graduating with a Lower Second Class Honours Degree or better. Thus enabling progression to postgraduate training in psychology, and therefore enables graduates to pursue, in due course, eligibility for Chartered Membership of the Society (CPsychol).

Excellent Facilities

Fantastic Opportunities

You can get involved in the research carried out by our staff, both as a participant and as a researcher, and not just through your classes and final year projects - there are paid research student internships and part-time research assistant positions available. You can also take part in conference talks, research publications and research grants - our current students regularly publish themselves, or become members of the editorial panel of ‘Diffusion’, UCLan’s own undergraduate research journal.

Some of our graduates pursue a career in psychology by undertaking postgraduate training to become professional psychologists, including our BPS-accredited master’s programmes. However, UCLan graduates are valued more broadly, and others utilise the skills that our degree encourages to take graduate-level positions in a range of organisations, including the Police, Prison Service, NHS, social and community services, health authorities and in the pharmaceutical industry, and in education and training.

Meet our students

Facilities

UCLan has state of the art facilities ranging from laboratories, lecture theatres and sports facilities. It has everything I would expect a highly rated educational institution to have in order for me to successfully complete my studies whilst also enjoying extra-curricular activities too.

Ghazala Fasal

Health Psychology Suite

Cognitive Psychology Laboratory

Laura Campbell came to UCLan on the back of enduring a difficult time at another university. Three years later, she graduated with a First Class Honours degree in Psychology, after enjoying her time at UCLan far more than she ever thought she would.

At her graduation ceremony in 2017, Laura won three awards, which recognised her ability and potential. She was awarded the Hugh Wagner Memorial Prize for The Best Undergraduate Project within the School of Psychology.

Further Information for students

You can find regulations and policies relating to student life at The University of Central Lancashire on our Student Contract page.

Entry Requirements

For changes to 2017 UCAS tariff entry requirements please see our Essential and Important Course Information. UCLan requires all undergraduate applicants to have a minimum attainment of five GCSEs at grade C and above, or equivalent, (including Maths and English). In 2017 and beyond we will view the new Grade 4 as being equivalent to a C grade and will therefore require students to achieve GCSE Grade 4 or above. However, if the subject is relevant to our degree programme and requires a higher GCSE grade (e.g. GCSE B grade), and/or includes a Professional body that governs the entry requirements, Grade 5 or above may be required.